Chapter 538: A Trap Banquet, The Head Director Steps In

As Zhou Can’s fame soared, more and more people invited him to dinner.

He declined whenever possible, but some invitations were unavoidable. After all, he couldn’t completely detach from society—necessary social connections mattered.

“Cousin, cousin, don’t hang up! I know you’re a big deal at Tuyu Hospital now, more famous than most chief physicians. I get that you’re busy. You can turn down others, but not your own cousin. If you’re tied up right now, no worries. I’ll wait until you’re off work and treat you to a late-night snack instead.”

She was insistent on treating Zhou Can to a meal.

This felt awfully strange.

They barely kept in touch usually, and now she suddenly wanted to dine with him. An unprompted favor often hides ulterior motives.

“I’m really swamped! I’ve got to run. Let’s talk another time!”

Zhou Can hung up without hesitation.

His cousin called again, and with a sigh, he picked up once more.

Dealing with thick-skinned relatives like her was always a headache.

Last time, his aunt’s family had begged Su Qianqian for autographs, planning to sell signed hats and clothes for profit. After Zhou Can refused, ties between the families had soured.

But they didn’t seem to care!

During holidays, they frequented Zhou Can’s home with newfound enthusiasm.

When Zhou Can’s family factory faced trouble, they kept their distance, treating him like a stranger.

Now, they flocked to his home for two reasons: they saw he was dating a celebrity, assuming he was loaded, and noticed the factory had bounced back, with business booming and income skyrocketing.

Meanwhile, his aunt’s family was on a downward spiral.

Rumor had it that his cousin Chen Shangfu failed to pass the physician’s certificate exam and was retaking it. Even the Provincial Children’s Hospital had grown cold toward him.

By standard practice, top-tier hospitals like the Provincial Children’s Hospital, Maternity and Child Hospital, or Provincial People’s Hospital had strict hiring rules for clinical doctors. Failing the certificate exam often meant you couldn’t stay.

The usual workaround was paying another hospital to continue training under their name.

Yes, you read that right. You had to pay the hospital, not just forgoing a salary but shelling out cash on top of it.

When Zhou Can took the certificate exam, the pressure was crushing. Failing would’ve meant hitting rock bottom.

In truth, many of his classmates stumbled at this hurdle.

For those with connections, failing the exam wasn’t the end. They’d often pivot to administrative roles, take civil service exams, or join pharmaceutical companies.

While Chen Shangfu struggled with his career, his sister’s job wasn’t much better. The Third Hospital was on the brink of collapse.

They couldn’t even pay doctors’ salaries, so nurses likely fared no better.

Her situation was precarious too.

Sure, major hospitals hired hordes of new nurses yearly, but the competition was fierce. Just recently, Tuyu’s Cardiothoracic Surgery department sought ten nurses, and over seven hundred lined up to apply.

Landing a nurse position at a big hospital, especially a suitable one, was no easy feat.

Some nursing roles were grueling—overworked, constantly berated by patients’ families, even risking physical harm. Few could endure them long-term.

His aunt’s children weren’t thriving, and neither were their parents.

His aunt had always been a housewife, while his uncle’s business ventures and investments bled money left and right.

Their family’s fortunes had clearly declined, a stark fall from grace.

Naturally, they now clung desperately to Zhou Can’s family for support.

Zhou Can’s father valued family ties and treated his aunt’s family with kindness.

He often reminded Zhou Can that no matter how successful one became, humility before relatives and hometown folks was key, especially with close kin within three generations.

At this moment, Zhou Can couldn’t just block his persistent cousin’s calls, despite the urge.

He knew blocking her would cause drama that’d reach his parents.

Then his father would call, and it’d be awkward to explain.

“If you’ve got something to say, spit it out. I’m about to head into the operating room. I won’t be able to take calls or reply to messages after that.”

Zhou Can answered the call and cut straight to the point.

“I just want to treat you to dinner. If you refuse, I’ll get chewed out by my boss. This is a task from our hospital leadership.”

She finally spilled the truth.

No wonder she was so eager to dine with Zhou Can. The Third Hospital had assigned her this mission.

“Hmph, interesting. How does your hospital leadership even know we’re cousins? If you hadn’t taken this on, they wouldn’t have tasked you with it. I’ll say it again—I’m busy. And I don’t appreciate being used.”

Zhou Can moved to hang up once more.

With his experience and sharp mind, he instantly pieced it together. His cousin must’ve volunteered the info about their relation to the hospital leaders.

Her motive was obvious—currying favor for personal gain.

As for using Zhou Can, that was second nature to his aunt’s family.

Anyone with value within reach was fair game for exploitation.

“Cousin, cousin, don’t misunderstand! I didn’t tell the leaders I knew you. Our Vice Director Zhang is incredibly resourceful. Somehow, he found out I’m your cousin. Around two this afternoon, the head nurse suddenly called me in for a chat. I was flattered, honestly. The nursing department head didn’t even know my name before, but this time, she was all smiles. And Vice Director Zhang, such a high-ranking figure, is usually out of reach for someone like me.”

His cousin sounded thrilled as she recounted the story.

Perhaps she hadn’t expected her cousin’s fame to be so staggering that even the Third Hospital’s vice director had business with Zhou Can.

Her so-called proud network paled in comparison to Zhou Can’s influence.

At best, she knew a few slightly higher-ranking doctors and nurses, connections she’d actively pursued. Whether they even acknowledged her was questionable.

Meanwhile, Zhou Can had the vice director of her hospital begging for a dinner meeting.

“Vice Director Zhang approached me with an unprecedented kindness, asking for a favor. He wants me to invite you out for a meal. He promised promotions and raises if I succeeded. Cousin, I swear I’m not trying to use you. I just thought inviting you to dinner as your cousin wouldn’t be a big deal, and it wouldn’t cost you anything. Please, help me out just this once, okay?”

Her voice pleaded over the phone.

“Why didn’t you say this upfront? You hid the truth from the start. If that’s not manipulation, what is?”

Zhou Can wasn’t a naive child.

He didn’t play mind games, but he wouldn’t tolerate others playing them with him either.

His cousin treating him like a fool naturally irked him.

Had she been upfront from the beginning, he might’ve considered it.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry! I was afraid you’d refuse. Last time, asking for autographs from your girlfriend upset you both. I worried that telling the truth would make you think I’m using you again, so I held back. Vice Director Zhang personally asked me to handle this. If I fail, he’ll be displeased. Cousin, I’m begging you—help me just this once, please?”

She pleaded desperately again.

“I can consider other favors, but not this one.”

Zhou Can refused once more.

“Also, know your limits. Don’t make decisions on my behalf next time. You can tell Director Zhang straight up that we’re not on good terms and I declined the invitation. Or better yet, relay this: he should walk the right path. After harming so many doctors, he’d best watch out for karma.”

His words were sharp and unyielding.

Zhou Can never shied away from speaking his mind, especially to people like his cousin or Vice Director Zhang. Politeness wasn’t necessary.

With that, he hung up again.

What a joke. The Third Hospital had already ruined so many doctors, even driving Deputy Director Lu to jump off a building. And Zhou Can was supposed to agree to a private dinner with Vice Director Zhang? His cousin had some nerve suggesting it wouldn’t cost him anything.

She hadn’t considered Zhou Can’s position at all.

If word got out that he dined privately with Vice Director Zhang, what would Tuyu Hospital’s leaders think?

This time, his cousin didn’t call back.

Instead, she bombarded him with voice messages on WeChat.

Zhou Can couldn’t be bothered to listen to them.

Arriving at the Cardiothoracic Surgery department, he dove into his hectic workload.

He felt utterly exhausted.

Every day brought endless tasks.

He envied doctors in auxiliary departments who could leave right after their shift. They rarely got called back for emergencies in the middle of the night. Regular meals and punctual clocks out— that was the dream life for clinical department doctors.

In Cardiothoracic Surgery, complex cases and high-difficulty surgeries piled up daily, waiting for Zhou Can’s input during consultations.

Or they needed him directly in the operating room.

Truth be told, his growth outpaced even Director Xueyan and others by a wide margin. With his near-encyclopedic medical knowledge, whether diagnosing cases or tackling challenging surgeries, he’d gradually become a top force.

Quietly, he was emerging as the new leading figure in Cardiothoracic Surgery.

…

Past eleven forty at night, Zhou Can trudged out of work, exhaustion weighing on him. Yet a sense of fulfillment warmed his heart. He’d successfully completed two surgeries and pinpointed the true causes of three tricky cases.

That meant five lives potentially saved.

For Zhou Can, the greatest reward of his grueling daily work wasn’t money—it was saving lives or easing patients’ suffering.

“Cousin, cousin!”

As he stepped out of the hospital, someone blocked his path.

His cousin waved from a black Audi, quickly getting out and hurrying toward him.

“I’ve made it clear I won’t attend any dinner. No amount of pestering will change my mind.”

Zhou Can’s face was stern as he spoke.

He wasn’t fazed by persistent people, nor did he struggle to say no out of politeness.

Only naive youngsters fresh out of school hesitated to refuse, often ending up taken advantage of.

“Dr. Zhou, don’t blame your cousin. I asked her to help arrange this meeting.”

Vice Director Zhang stepped out of the car.

A broad smile spread across his face as he approached Zhou Can.

“I know you likely hold some bias against me, especially after Director Lu’s recent tragedy. You probably see me as an irredeemable villain.”

He didn’t shy away, addressing the issue head-on.

His social finesse far outshone Zhou Can’s cousin by leaps and bounds.

At their level, beating around the bush or lying only made others look down on you.

A single misstep in conversation could end it abruptly.

“You’re overthinking, Director Zhang. I feel neither ill will nor fondness toward you. We’re just two people who’ve crossed paths briefly. If nothing unexpected happens, we’ll likely never have any real connection.”

Zhou Can replied coolly.

His response was cutting, treating the other as a mere passerby and stating plainly they’d have no ties.

It effectively shut down whatever Zhang intended to say next.

“Since Dr. Zhou bears no grudge against me, please give me a chance. I won’t take much of your time—just a quick private chat. Is that alright?”

Vice Director Zhang pleaded.

“If you’ve got something to say, go ahead.” Zhou Can glanced at his watch.

He didn’t usually wear a watch, as most of his time was spent in the operating room where doctors couldn’t wear rings, watches, or similar accessories for safety reasons.

But this watch was a gift from Su Qianqian, holding special meaning to him.

Out of affection, he didn’t mind the hassle and wore it daily.

“Then… would you mind stepping into the car for a brief talk?” Vice Director Zhang hesitated for a moment before asking.

“Fine.”

Zhou Can nodded in agreement.

“Xiao Chen, sorry to make you wait outside for a bit.” Vice Director Zhang, who likely wouldn’t spare Zhou Can’s cousin a glance on a normal day, now treated her with courtesy.

In his eyes, getting close to Zhou Can through Chen Shangmei seemed like a viable strategy.

Inside the car, Zhou Can noticed another man in the backseat.

In his fifties, his hair was impeccably neat, and a faint air of authority clung to his face. He wasn’t tall, probably around five foot five, an average height.

His frame appeared lean.

Even through glasses, his gaze carried a piercing intensity.

What stood out most was his mustache, eerily reminiscent of officers from old war dramas.

Zhou Can couldn’t quite place his nationality.

“Allow me to introduce him. This is Director Zhang Qilian, the head director of our Third Hospital.”

Head director meant the top authority.

A hospital could have multiple vice directors, but only one head director.

He held the most power within the institution.

“Hello.”

Zhou Can gave a slight nod.

“Dr. Zhou, good evening. I’m terribly sorry for disturbing you so late. Please forgive me.”

The man’s demeanor was exceedingly polite.

He even bowed at a full ninety degrees to Zhou Can.

Zhou Can couldn’t help but recall Japanese etiquette. The man’s appearance and gestures seemed heavily influenced by that culture.

“Director Zhang, no need for formalities. If you have something to discuss, please get to the point.”

As the head director of the Third Hospital, and with such courtesy extended, Zhou Can wouldn’t be rude in return.

That’s how adults navigated interactions.

They might not see eye to eye, but maintaining surface civility was expected.

“Our Third Hospital is in dire straits. Business has plummeted, and we’re teetering on the edge of collapse. I sincerely invite you, Dr. Zhou, to join us. In terms of compensation, we offer a post-tax annual salary of five million, with a status equal to that of a major department head. If you have other conditions, we’re open to discussion.”

Talk about a bold offer.

Five million was a staggering sum, matching the salary of top surgical directors at elite hospitals.

It was essentially the ceiling for doctors’ earnings in the country.